The Reformed Church of the Palatinate
Zwingli Zurich Switzerland 1484-1531	Brought up as a humanist, following the teachings of Erasmus. He reformed the church in Zurich. His great contribution to the Reformation was his recognition of the worship of images and idols was foundational to the piety of the Roman church, holding the people in bondage socially and economically. Through the teachings of Calvin, his ideas were spread throughout Germany, especially in the Palatinate. He died in battle against the Catholic Cantons.
John Calvin 1509-1564	Frenchman whose greatest work was in Geneva. The Catholic Encyclopedia calls him the “the greatest of Protestant divines, and perhaps, after St. Augustine, the most perseveringly followed by his disciples of any Western writer on theology.” Those who followed his teachings came to be called “Reformed,” especially in Holland, Switzerland, and Germany.
Council of Trent 1545-1563	This Council was the centerpiece of the Counter-Reformation. The Jesuits prevailed in making the Roman Church anti-protestant and anti-reformation. The Jesuits, along with the Index of Forbidden Books and the Inquisition, proved to be very skillful at the shedding of the blood of the faithful.
Peace of Augsburg 1555	This brought peace in the wars between Rome and Lutherans. There had been long war between Charles V of the HRE and Francis of France and Henry II of France. The Peace of Augsburg allowed those princes who adhered to the Augsburg Confession [written by Melanchthon] to have freedom of worship in Germany. No such freedom was allowed for the reformed [Calvinists] churches.
Lutheran Contentions	Lutherans in the Palatinate contended furiously among themselves, especially over the bodily presence in the Lord’s Supper. The Lutheran doctrines became fixed in the Formula of Concord.
Elector Frederick III Palatinate Ruled 1559-1577	The “Father of the Heidelberg Catechism.” Frederick determined that the Bible, not Luther, should be the standard for doctrine and practice in the church of the Palatinate. “Only the words of the institution of the LORD’S supper were to be used in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. All crosses, candles, altars, and pictures were removed from the churches, and the singing of the Psalms in the German language was introduced.” Contentious ministers were fired and ministers with Calvinist and Melanchthonian principles were appointed to fill their place.
Casper Olivianus 1532- Zacharias Ursinus 1534	They were brought by Frederick to teach at the University of Heidelberg. As a young man, Olivianus has risked his life to save the life of the Count who later became Frederick III. He went to Geneva, heard Calvin’s lectures. At Zurich he met Peter Martyr and Beza at Lausanne. Old Farel sent him back to his home at Treves to preach. He was cast into prison for ten months, then banished. A year later, he was called to Heidelberg by William, who remembered his attempt to save his son. He was a student of Philip Melanchthon at Wittenberg. He was caught up in the Lutheran quarrels and was labeled a Calvinist. He resigned his position at Wittenberg and went to Zurich. Frederick had sent to Zurich to get Peter Martyr, but he considered himself too old, and recommended Ursinus, who agreed to go to Heidelberg.
Heidelberg Catechism 1563	It became one of the Three Forms of Unity, the confessions of the Reformed Churches throughout the world. “It was accepted by the Anglican Church in 1567, as the standard expression of her faith, by the Dutch Synod of Wesel in 1568, by the Synod of Dort in 1571, and by the Scottish church in 1571, and by the great ecumenical Synod of Dort in 1618-19. The British delegates at the Synod of Dort agreed that neither in their own nor in the French Church was there a catechism so suitable and excellent. They reported: ‘Our Reformed brethren on the continent have a little book whose single leaves are not to be bought with tons of gold.’” It has been translated into many, many languages, some of which are listed on pages 6 and 7 of the catechism.
Palatinate	The Reformed Church of the Palatinate came into its own with the Heidelberg Catechism. In many ways it was the crown jewel of the Reformed Churches, and its influence was felt around the world. But it did not last long.

Copyright, C. W. Powell, New Geneva Seminary, Colorado Springs. 2004. Permission to copy in any form, electronic or written, must be obtained in writing from C. W. Powell, New Geneva Theological Seminary, Colorado Springs, CO.